I have a feeling I know how you guys will react to the news I am about to share. One move you will greet joyfully, the other one ... umm ... not so much.
The news? The New York Giants today officially announced the signings of wide receiver/kick returners Domenik Hixon AND Darius Reynaud to contract extensions. Various reports indicate Hixon signed a one-year deal, while Reynaud's contract length has not been determined.
With Hixon missing the 2010 season due to a knee injury, and Reynaud handling much of the return duty for the first two-thirds of the season, the Giants were 31st in the NFL in both punt returns (a 6.1-yard average) and kickoff returns (19.0).
These moves, of course, do not mean both players will make the 2011 roster. The Giants have seemingly been following a strategy of maintaining as many players as possible, at least for the time being. That is likely a good strategy considering there is no telling when there will be a free agency period, or how long it will last.
The Giants also officially announced a series of other contract tenders.
One-year contract tenders were given to Restricted Free Agents OL Kevin Boothe, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, TE Kevin Boss, DT Barry Cofield, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, WR Steve Smith and DE Dave Tollefson.
Boss, Bradshaw, Cofield, and Tollefson received second-round tenders. Boothe, Kiwanuka and Smith each received an original round tender.
The Giants have also tendered one-year contracts to two Exclusive Rights players: OL Jamon Meredith and TE/FB Bear Pascoe.